Hershey Story

We have been asked if the streets of Hershey, PA are paved with chocolate and if we could smell the chocolate when we went through town.  The answer to the second question is no.  We never got a whiff, although I will say that we didn't go by the factory.  To answer the first question we went to the Hershey museum.  This is a view of the Hershey Park from the Museum parking lot.  This is one of 12 roller coasters.

What we learned from The Hershey Story is that the streets are paved with chocolate and the buildings and houses are built with chocolate.  Hershey actually started as what is called a "company town".  Hershey wanted his employees to be healthy and happy.  He built houses then charged his employees low rents and encouraged them to own their own homes with low interest home loans through his loan company.  He built the city park, zoo, school, swimming pool, lake so that his employees could enjoy themselves on their days off.  He thought that happy employees were loyal and innovative.  He was right.  His employees created many new machines and methods to make the company better.  The city today sports an amusement park, Hershey Gardens (originally Hershey's front yard), an entire interactive experience called Hershey's Chocolate World Attraction, Milton Hershey School & Founders Hall Visitors Center.  The Children's Home for orphaned boys is still in operation but is for all children now.

This clock was purchased by Hershey for his house then moved to the museum.  It features the twelve apostles at the trial of Jesus in a tableau at the top.  It shows the phases of the moon, the second, hour, day, month and other interesting stuff.

Hershey started and failed at many enterprises before he hit upon candy.  His first really successful venture was manufacturing caramels.

He was convinced, however, that the real money was in chocolate, so he sold the caramel business and created a unique way to make chocolate.

On of the most important pieces of machinery in the making of cocoa.  The museum cost $9 for seniors.  It was worth it.  The museum is chock full of great displays of information and artifacts and lots if interactive displays.  After our tour I needed a chocolate fix so we hit the gift shop.  We found some Kiss ornaments for our little Christmas tree (always looking for mini ornaments) and some Special Dark Kisses.  Yum!

The Kisses were just to get our taste buds ready for ice cream.  We tried the Jigger Shop again. (Remember, it was closed the first time we tried).

They serve ice cream from their soda fountain style work area and sandwiches and fries in a little area at tie right.  This line is actually twice this long.  The wait was no longer than 15 minutes, though.

Typical sundae.  The whipped cream is dispensed through a hose connected to a vat of the stuff and it just keeps coming!

Our sweet tooth sated, we headed home ahead of the storm clouds.  This is the sum total of the sunset.  Not a bad ending to a good day.

Next up... more chocolate 

Louise and Duane